Ukraine on Its Way to Unprecedented Figures

73% of Ukrainian residents are confident in the future, and level of trust in President Zelensky has reached 85%.

Two main reasons for the Ukrainians’ optimism are positive changes in the country and their children’s achievements.

Most people are unhappy with their bosses. Almost 8% of the Ukrainians are afraid of their managers and feel constantly humiliated by them. These are the results of the weekly sociological survey of “Savik Shuster’s Freedom of Speech” conducted on 13 September 2019.

Savik Shuster’s “Freedom of Speech” presents “the golden hundred”

Talk-show "Freedom of Speech of Savik Shuster" studio live.

The audience in Savik Shuster’s studio reflects the opinion of the entire country. “Savik Shuster’s Freedom of Speech” does not use the concept of “talk show crowd”.

There is no possibility to reserve a seat there. There are no people who earn money for just sitting in the studio, as it happens in other talk shows. Why?

It’s all due to the main policy of the program: at “Savik Shuster’s Freedom of Speech” the opinion of one hundred participants in the studio should reflect as accurately as possible the point of view of all residents of the country. Over 30 professional sociologists constantly make sure this policy is implemented. When choosing the audience, they use the principle of stratified stochastic sampling, which reflects the demographic and geographical compound of the Ukrainian population.

This means that each person in the studio should be chosen randomly, this person should not depend on any political force in the country nor should he or she have any ties with the staff working on the program. In order to fulfill all these conditions, sociologists, also referred to as "field foremen", call random numbers and knock on random doors in all regions of Ukraine, and offer people whom they have never seen before to take part in the shooting of the program.

In order to create an objective sample, sociologists go from door to door in all regions of Ukraine.

Those who are lucky to become the voice of the people receive a ticket to Kiev and back. The program administrators arrange hotels and sightseeing tours in Kiev for the participants. This is the most expensive part of the program. But that is precisely why the opinion of this “golden hundred” reflects so accurately the predisposition of the public opinion throughout Ukraine.

Before the program begins, sociologists conduct a detailed survey of all 100 people. Their answers give the most accurate picture of how Ukrainians live today, of their hopes and fears. This is what allows us to see every week how the people live and what their worries are.

The results of the survey conducted on 13 September:

On 13 September 2019, level of trust in President Vladimir Zelensky was 85%.

Country of great hope

Ukraine is becoming a country of great hope. 73% of its population are optimistic about the future. People are largely enthused with positive changes in the country (21.9%), their children’s achievements (10%), positive changes in their hometowns (8%). People say that their positive attitude to the future results from the fact that the administration truly cares about the people, and not about themselves (6%), and also note that level of corruption in the country has decreased (5%). 4% of Ukrainians enjoy life thanks to their spouses/partners and their work.

"The reason for my optimism about tomorrow is my second half," 4% of Ukrainians answered.

The reason for your hope for tomorrow

% of all Ukrainians (tendency)

I see positive changes in the life of Ukraine

21.9

Children

10

I see positive changes in my hometown

8

The government cares about the people, not about their own profit

6

Level of corruption has decreased

5

I like my colleagues

5

I love my job

4

Partner (spouse)

4

Hobbies

2

I am happy with my salary

1

Other

6

TOTAL

73%

Bosses are perceived by Ukrainians as nuisance

The main fear that the Ukrainians feel is that of their bosses. Almost 5% of them are afraid of the future because of their supervisors. Another 2% are worried about their work relations with colleagues and subordinates.

The reason for your fears

% of all Ukrainians (tendency)

Bosses

4.8

The situation in the country

3

Colleagues

2.4

Subordinates

2.4

Presidential Policy

2

Threat of war

2

I'm afraid of losing my job

1.2

I am unemployed

1.2

Work of Parliament

1

Local officials

1

Total

21%

Humiliation

Issue of humiliation is similar - 3% of residents feel humiliated by their bosses. Another 2% feel humiliated by corrupt local officials. But it is worth noting that the total percentage of people who live in humiliation is relatively low - only 6%.

The reason for your humiliation

% of all Ukrainians (tendency)

Bosses

3

Local officials

2

Work of Parliament

1

Total

6%

Bosses cause fear and humiliate Ukrainians.

More good news

85% of Ukrainians want their children to live in their own country. Just six months ago, 30% of them wanted their children to leave Ukraine (the results of the OMF survey conducted on 17-24 February 2019)

Indirectly, such answer to this question on 13 September reflects the growing confidence of Ukrainians in their future. No wonder this figure absolutely matches the level of trust in President Vladimir Zelensky.